Milk It – English Lyrics

• By: Nirvana

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw intensity of Nirvana's 'Milk It,' a powerful track from their final album, *In Utero*. This song offers a fascinating glimpse into Kurt Cobain's poetic yet aggressive lyricism, providing an excellent opportunity to explore evocative English expressions related to complex emotions and social commentary. Its unpolished sound and visceral delivery make it a compelling piece for understanding authentic grunge-era English.

[English]

I am my own parasite

I don't need a host to live

We feed off of each other

We can share our endorphins

...

Doll steak

Test meat

Look on the bright side, suicide

Lost eyesight, I am on your side

Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing

Lack of iron, I'm not sleeping

...

I own my own pet virus

I get to pet and name her

Her milk is my shit

My shit is her milk

...

Test meat

Doll steak

Look on the bright side, suicide

Lost eyesight, I'm on your side

Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing

Lack of iron, I'm not sleeping

...

Doll steak

Test meat

Look on the bright side, suicide

Lost eyesight, I'm on your side

Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing

Lack of iron, I'm not sleeping

Protector of the kennel

Ecto-plasma, ecto-skeletal

Obituary birthday

Your scent is still here in my place of recovery

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
parasite /ˈpærəsaɪt/ B2	noun - an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
feed /fiːd/ A2	verb - to give food to
share /ʃeər/ A2	verb - to have or use something at the same time as someone else
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining
side /saɪd/ A1	noun - a position to the left or right of something
suicide /ˈsuːɪsaɪd/ B1	noun - the act of intentionally causing one's own death
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ A2	noun - a spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God
wing /wɪŋ/ A2	noun - a part of a bird, insect, or bat's body that is used for flying
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ A2	adjective - having been fractured or damaged
iron /ˈaɪən/ B1	noun - a strong, hard, gray metal, the chemical element of atomic number 26
virus /ˈvaɪrəs/ B1	noun - an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, too small to be seen by the unaided eye, and able to multiply only within the living cells of a host
pet /pet/ A1	verb - to stroke or pat (an animal) affectionately. noun - an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment
milk /mɪlk/ A1	noun - a white liquid produced by mammals verb - to draw milk from the udder or breasts of.
shit /ʃɪt/ B1	noun - feces
kennel /ˈkenl/ B1	noun - a shelter for dogs
ectoplasm /ˈektəˌplæzm/ C2	noun - a supposed emanation from the body of a medium during a trance, in the form of a visible vapor or substance
obituary /əˈbɪtʃuəri/ B2	noun - a notice of a death, especially with a biographical account
birthday /ˈbɜːθdeɪ/ A1	noun - the anniversary of the day on which a person was born
scent /sent/ B1	noun - a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
recovery /rɪˈkʌvəri/ B1	noun - a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength

Key Grammar Structures

• I am my own parasite

  ➔ Reflexive Pronoun & Predicate Nominative

  ➔ The use of 'my own' emphasizes that the speaker is both the subject and object of the parasitic relationship. 'Parasite' functions as a predicate nominative, renaming 'I'.

• Her milk is my shit

  ➔ Metaphorical Language & Subject-Verb Agreement

  ➔ This line uses a shocking metaphor to illustrate a cyclical, destructive relationship. The verb 'is' agrees with the singular nouns 'milk' and 'shit'.

• Look on the bright side, suicide

  ➔ Imperative Mood & Juxtaposition

  ➔ The line begins with an imperative ('Look') offering a positive suggestion, immediately followed by the stark reality of 'suicide', creating a jarring juxtaposition.

• Lack of iron, I'm not sleeping

  ➔ Causal Conjunction & Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'Lack of iron' acts as the cause, and 'I'm not sleeping' is the effect, connected by an implied 'because'. 'I'm not sleeping' uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing state.